Councils’ call over heat-leaking homes

Millions of families struggling with the rising cost of living are having to pay an extra £250 a year on fuel bills because of leaky homes, councils have warned.

The Local Government Association (LGA) found that three million households in fuel poverty in England were paying an extra £250 a year on average as heat is wasted through the walls, roofs and windows of poorly insulated housing.

The LGA, which represents 350 councils, is calling for a redoubling of efforts to insulate all fuel poor homes and save millions from energy bills every year.

The demand joins the growing chorus of calls for more Government action to make homes more energy efficient - reducing demand for gas and other fuels, cutting bills, supporting energy security and cutting carbon emissions.

David Renard, environment spokesperson for the LGA, said: "So many homes are leaking money as energy prices increase.

"This will hit stretched household budgets hard and the public purse while adding to the climate crisis. "Investment made now will save money for households further down the line, ease the cost-of-living crisis and mean families have added security and flexibility within their budgets." A Government spokesperson said: "Thanks to support from the Government, the number of homes with an energy efficiency rating of C or above is at 46% and rising, up from just 13% in 2010.

"We are investing £6.6bn to go even further, with planned energy efficiency upgrades delivering savings of £300 a year on average on their energy bills."